A case of appendicitis has prompted a change to Bellator’s season-two lightweight tournament.

Sources close to the tournament today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Ferrid Kheder has been forced out of the eight-man field because of the ailment. He’s been replaced by WEC veteran James Krause, and his bout with Toby Imada – originally slated for Bellator 15 – instead takes place this Thursday at Bellator 14.

To make room, a planned Bellator 14 featherweight tourney bout between Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and William Romero has been moved to next week’s Bellator 15 event.

Kheder’s unfortunately timed bout of appendicitis has forced him completely out of the tourney, which earns the winner $100,000 in pay and a shot at season-one winner and current champ Eddie Alvarez.

Because Bellator’s tournament rounds happen so quickly – each tourney lasts 12 weeks or fewer – Kheder (16-5 MMA, 0-0 BFC), a seventh-place finisher in judo competition at the 2000 Sydney Games, simply wouldn’t have time to recover in time to make a return.

Taking his place is Krause (11-2 MMA, 0-0 BFC), who enters Bellator after a 0-2 stint in the WEC that included losses to top lightweight contender Donald Cerrone and fellow title hopeful Ricardo Lamas. Krause posted a 10-0 record to earn his way into the WEC, and after his release, he submitted Kalel Robinson (6-1 at the time) at Titan Fighting Championships 15. All of Krause’s 11 victories have come via stoppage (nine in the first round).

His opponent, Imada (23-13 MMA, 2-1 BFC), is a 12-year pro who earned a runner-up finish in Bellator’s season-one lightweight tournament. Before a submission loss to Alvarez in the tournament finale, Imada stopped heavy favorite Jorge Masvidal with a slick inverted triangle choke that earned him the 2009 World MMA Awards “Submission of the Year” trophy.

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